Painting Business Valuation
Painting Business Valuation Calculator & Exit Planning Built for Contractors
We built one platform that tracks your painting business's value monthly, identifies exit gaps early, and ensures your personal finances align with your exit timeline.
1,000+ Businesses have joined YourExitValue.com
Most Painting Contractors Have No Idea What Their Business is Actually Worth
Current Painting Valuation Multiples (2026)
Painting business values vary widely based on commercial mix and operational maturity. Here's the current landscape:
Every business is different. That's why you need to track your value.
Included in Your Exit Value is a complete Exit Planning Assessment where you track your progress quarterly against your results from the previous quarter.
Know your number and watch it grow
Most business owners guess at their value. You'll know it with precision.
Our platform uses six proven valuation methodologies to give you a complete picture of what your business is worth today—and tracks how that number changes month over month. No more waiting for annual appraisals or paying $15K+ for outdated reports.
See your trends. Spot opportunities. Make informed decisions
What Actually Drives Painting Business Value
A busy painting company isn't necessarily a valuable one. Buyers look beyond revenue to these factors that separate premium businesses from average ones:
Commercial Contracts
50%+ Commercial
Property management contracts, HOA relationships, and commercial repaint schedules create predictable, repeating revenue streams.
Residential-only = seasonal gamble
Crew Stability
Core Team 2+ Years
Finding reliable painters is brutal. A stable, tenured crew signals good management and reduces buyer worry about rebuilding teams.
Constant turnover = hidden problem
Estimating Systems
Documented Process
If estimates live only in your head, buyers see a problem. Written systems for pricing, scoping, and job costing transfer value to new owners.
Owner-only pricing = key person risk
Owner Role
Sales & QC Only
Owners still picking up brushes are earning wages, not building equity. Transition to sales, customer relationships, and quality oversight.
Owner on ladder = discounted multiple
Repeat Customers
40%+ Repeat Rate
Customers who call back every few years—property managers, builders, loyal homeowners—prove your quality and relationships transfer.
All new customers = endless marketing
Fleet & Equipment
Professional Vehicles
Wrapped vans and maintained equipment signal a real company. Beat-up trucks and borrowed ladders signal a jobber operation.
Shabby fleet = unprofessional image
How to Value a Painting Business
The U.S. painting contractor industry includes over 300,000 businesses generating approximately $55 billion in annual revenue. Painting businesses range from residential touch-up crews to large commercial and industrial painting contractors.
Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) is the standard valuation method. Painting businesses typically sell for 1.5x to 3.0x SDE. Companies at the higher end have established commercial accounts, reliable crews, brand recognition, and a mix of interior, exterior, and commercial work that smooths seasonal fluctuations.
Revenue multiples for painting businesses generally range from 0.20x to 0.40x annual revenue. Companies with recurring commercial maintenance contracts command the upper end.
The unique valuation factor for painting businesses is the crew stability and commercial contract base. Painting has relatively low barriers to entry, making brand reputation and workforce reliability the primary competitive moats. Companies with trained, reliable crew leaders who manage projects independently from the owner demonstrate scalability. Commercial accounts — property management companies, HOAs, general contractors, and facility maintenance programs — provide recurring revenue that residential-only painters lack.
The painting industry has seen moderate consolidation from franchise systems and multi-market operators seeking to professionalize the trade. Use our free calculator above to get your instant estimate, then track your value monthly with YourExitValue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What multiple do painting businesses sell for?
Most painting businesses sell for 1.8x – 3.2x SDE. The range is wide because factors like commercial mix, crew stability, and owner involvement matter enormously. YourExitValue helps you understand exactly where you fall.
How important is commercial work for painting business value?
Very. Commercial contracts—especially repeat maintenance work with property managers—provide predictability that residential can't match. Businesses with 50%+ commercial revenue typically sell for 25-40% higher multiples.
Can I sell my painting business if I still paint?
Yes, but expect a lower multiple and potentially an earnout. Buyers prefer owners who've transitioned to sales and management. If you're still on ladders daily, start delegating now—give yourself 12-18 months to transition.
How do I prove my painting business's value to buyers?
Document everything: your estimating process, job costing by project, customer database with repeat rates, crew tenure records, and clean financials showing 2-3 years of profit trends. Buyers pay more for businesses they can verify.
Who buys painting businesses?
Individual buyers looking to own a business are most common. You'll also see strategic acquirers (larger painting companies expanding territory), home services consolidators, and occasionally private equity for larger operations.
What's the fastest way to increase my painting business value?
Three moves with the biggest impact: 1) Land 2-3 commercial maintenance contracts, 2) Document your estimating and operations systems, 3) Stop painting and focus on sales. Most owners can add 20-35% in value within 12-18 months.